41 “Invisible” Privileges That Most People Don’t Notice Because They Have Them, As Pointed Out In This Online Group

We live in an inequal world and, sadly, some of us have more than others. And not necessarily material things, but just mondane things that we don't consider to be privileges, like decent health or loving parents. Maybe you wouldn't call these privileges, because they are normal to you, but there are people who can only wish to have that.

Reddit user vianneyal asked people "What is something people don't realize is a privilege?" to remind us all to be grateful for the simple things we have or the things that help us to live our lives more comfortably. The thread quickly grabbed the attention of Reddit users, being upvoted 55k times in less than two weeks. Folks were mentioning all sorts of things that they feel grateful for or, on the contrary, to have.

While reading the list, upvote the submissions you agree with the most and if you feel like there is something missing, maybe you will find it in this Bored Panda article, published a few months ago.

More info: Reddit

#1

This might sound silly to some but the other night I decided to change my bedding randomly and realized how lucky I am to be able to swap to another clean set on a whim. Clean laundry, multiple blankets, a whole drawer of socks...those things make me feel rich. A lot of people don't have another set of clothes or a clean, safe bed to sleep in.

Image credits: Anticrepuscular_Ray

#2

Being able-bodied. Maybe it's cliche but seriously, all that can change in less than an instant. You never realize how much you take health for granted until it's screwed up.

Image credits: DTownForever

#3

Running water 24/7 everyday

Image credits: Zack4044

#4

Buying groceries without having to carefully consider prices.

Image credits: scooter-willie

#5

Executive function.

Anyone in your life that you think is ‘lazy’, ‘messy’, etc. likely has some kind of executive function deficit. It’s common with depression, ADHD, ASD, and other mental illnesses. Imagine sitting somewhere, knowing you should do something, wanting to do it, but there is this weird mental block preventing you from getting up and doing it. That’s one of the many ways exec dysfunction manifests.

It is hell seeing normal people just be able to do s**t. And that goes for fun, happy things just as much as s****y, chore-type things. Even going to the bathroom when you feel the need to can be a struggle.

Image credits: aliceroyal

#6

Having the freedom to focus on things like hobbies or finding your passion instead of just basic human needs like keeping a roof over your head and food in your stomach.

Image credits: Hrekires

#7

Having your parents to fall back onto for help or advice during adulthood.

I've been estranged since I've been 16, life ain't easy navigating the world alone.

Image credits: NotMyCabbagesAgain

#8

Toilets

Image credits: Unisekaied-DemonLoli

#9

Not having to pay bribes to survive

Image credits: notveryoriginalname2

#10

Being able to choose between Covid vaccines. Like there are many countries that are unable to get access to at least one vaccine, but in rich nations like the US, people can choose between which vaccine they want to get. And yet you have people who refuse to get the vaccine for non-legitimate reasons.

Image credits: PumpkinSpiceBiscotti

#11

Eating three meals a day

Image credits: wilmeist3r

#12

Privacy.

Not so much the whole big brother, everyone is watching/listening to everything thing, that’s a whole other can of worms. I’m talking about the simple pleasure of having a place which is just yours, with a door you can shut and be alone.

#13

Having access to dentists in childhood.

Image credits: Fr8ndInm8-2

#14

1. going to university

2. being able to just do university while you're at university

Image credits: 4oodler

#15

Air conditioning

Image credits: 93yourcultleader93

#16

Having no gut or digestive issues.

I can tell you it's easier for people to accept when I say "I don't eat it because I don't like the taste" rather than saying "I can't eat it because it makes my stomach hurt"

For some reason, people think that because they can eat anything without any issues, the rest of the world can too. And if you say you can't, you're some sort of pretentious gluten-free hippie f******d who thinks they're better than everyone.

Some people just don't know how lucky they are yet they eat trash all the time.

Treat your bodies well people, especially if they work 100% correctly.

#17

Having loving parents in a healthy marriage.

Image credits: 7c518c130a4c

#18

Being able to enjoy total silence.

(F**k tinnitus.)

Image credits: Ozzel

#19

Sewers. A literal city of tunnels you never see, draining and moving water in and out of your town/city, completely hidden from view. It's a f****n luxury and you'd be surprised how much of the world doesn't have that while the rest of the world never even thinks about it.

Image credits: Happy8Day

#20

Getting as much sleep as you need.

Image credits: Character_Comb_3439

#21

Being able to quit a job without fear of losing financial stability.

Image credits: AMiniMinotaur

#22

Some people don’t seem to realize how much of a privilege travel is.

There are a lot of privileges within that broad category, too. Some passports allow holders to travel pretty much anywhere they wish. Men can sometimes travel alone to places that women might rightly feel unsafe visiting. LGBTQ+ people are sometimes at greater risk than others, depending on the destination. White people are sometimes treated better as tourists than people of color.

There are layers and layers of privilege in travel, and I think sometimes certain people forget that.

#23

being able to work from home, especially during the pandemic

#24

Growing up in a first world country.

Image credits: Reimu64

#25

Having the freedom to marry who you want.

Image credits: BluePersephone99

#26

Weekends off work.

I think about this every Saturday when the gardener comes to mow. He brings his son to help him. My kids are sitting in their PJs working on coding projects, while his son is out helping mow lawns. That is his kid's Saturday off school vs. mine. The danger is that someday, if my kids become programmers or whatever white collar job, they will look back and say, "It's because I worked hard to gain these skills," taking for granted the privilege of the time to do it.

Image credits: CJs2cents3456

#27

Going years without cancer or sickness

Image credits: ThePerfectionisttThePerfectionistt

#28

Living in a nation where police actually receive rigorous training and are taught to use lethal force as a last resort.

#29

Being in the life of family members.

I have yeeted people from my life who have made big surprised pikachu faces for things like stealing from me, emotional abuse, hitting me “even though they didn’t mean it they were just drunk/upset/emotional” whatever.

I give zero f***s about blood. If you want a place in my life, you keep it by being a decent person and that goes triple for relationships with my kids.

Edit: I do not let people around my kids just because they are blood related. If they’re abusive or creepy, they don’t get a free pass to be near my children.

Image credits: madpiratebippy

#30

Having both nostrils unclogged.

#31

I noticed that i was privileged with eating to my taste- my dad told me how in mexico they ate what they had, it was rural farm life, i mean he continued to eat that way even living here in america, he would buy me and my sister whatever we wanted and make eggs and beans for himself.

i can eat mexican food, japanese food, chinese,burgers,italian whatever really.

Image credits: maybe_secretlysatan

#32

Having both your parents alive when your past the age of 30

Image credits: bfields2

#33

Enjoying what you do for a living

#34

Choosing your diet

Image credits: Bloominghell7

#35

Going on vacation.

Many people take it for granted and behave like you couldn't live without goin on vacation twice a year. At least in middle Europe.

Well yeah you can! I've been on real vacation like twice in my life. And I'm 23 years old.

#36

Having access to technology. EDIT: referring to electronics

Image credits: mythirdcommentingacc

#37

Having no duty to join the army.

#38

The internet. Having an answer for every question.

#39

Drivers License.

Image credits: Volikand

#40

Living in a country with access to not only basic needs, but conveniences and luxuries as well.

Image credits: fuelthefire121

#41

Never having had to work a cleaning job